Wall construction



April 1, 1969 E. J. MCGUIRE WALL CONSTRUCTION Sheet' Filed June 13, 1967 A l far/rey April l, 1969 E J, MCGU|RE WALL CONSTRUCTION Sheet Filed June 13, 1967 /fvvENro/e.

EARL J. McGU/RE MvzL-M` Aflormfeyl United States Patent O 3,435,619 WALL CONSTRUCTION Earl J. McGuire, Coraopolis, Pa., assignor to Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 13, 1967, Ser. No. 645,707

Int. Cl. E21d 5/04 U.S. Cl. 61-41 10 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an improvement in shaft curtain wall construction. The curtain wall comprises a plurality of pre-cast concrete panels disposed one atop the other in a vertical plane and supported by and between a pair of support members on opposite walls of the shaft. The support members and panels have matched, reversely inclined abutting surfaces with the inclined surfaces of the support members extending under the matching surfaces of the panels. Each panel has the shape of a symmetrical trapezoid with its long base uppermost, so that the side edges of the panel slope downwardly and inwardly. The support members comprise opposed vertical columns or recesses in a shaft lining, each with a series of ledges or steps which slope downwardly and inwardly to form supporting surfaces on which the panels rest, with the side edges of each panel resting `on the supporting surfaces of the columns. The panels are grouted in place by a non-shrink grout. The weight of each panel is thus carried by the support columns, so that each panel is independently supported.

yBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The lield of the invention relates to static structures of walls made up of a plurality of superposed modules or panels.

Description of the prior art In prior art wall constructions, employing pre-cast concrete panels or the like, the panels rest one atop the other in a vertical plane so that each panel supports the weight of all panels above. In the case of a curtain wall for a shaft, this arrangement presents serious problems both in the initial construction of the wall and in maintenance on the wall should damage occur, particularly damage occurring in the lower portions of a wall constructed in a deep shaft.

Curtain walls are used, c g., in mine ventilation shafts which may be on the order of 20 or more feet in diameter and several thousand feet deep. The curtain wall generally separates the shaft which may be circular, elliptical, rectangular or some other shape, into two vertical portions, e.g., one portion for a service elevator shaft and the other portion is for ventilation. The elevator is mounted on one side of the curtain wall. Other arrangements are possible of course depending on the purpose of the shaft. Several curtain Walls may be constructed in the same shaft to carry various items of equipment.

The interior of the shaft is normally provided with a shaft lining, which may be concrete or made up of a plurality of building materials. The curtain wall is then installed in various conventional forms including the use 0f superposed concrete panels which extend across the shaft, each panel resting on the one below it and supporting the ones a-bove it. If damage occurs to one of the lower panels, it may be necessary to remove all panels above it in order to effectuate the necessary repairs, following which the -wall must be rebuilt. This procedure is of course time consuming and costly and becomes the more so as shaft depth increases. Moreover, each successively lower panel ICC must be capable of supporting greater weight than the one above it so that greater thickness and/or stronger reinforcing members are required, whereby the individual panels cannot be made uniform without the waste of money and materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a means for constructing a wall comprising a plurality of superposed panels supported between two spaced, opposed vertical support members in a manner such that each panel is substantially independently supported. In a shaft construction the shaft is provided with a shaft liner and the two support members are arranged on opposite sides of the shaft. The support members may be vertical columns projecting inwardly of the shaft or they may be formed as recesses in the shaft liner structure. For convenience in this summary the term columns will be used. Each column is formed with a vertical `series of steps or zig-zags such that it provides a series of panelsupporting faces which slope downwardly and inwardly of the shaft. The two opposing columns are arranged so that their panel-support faces are in horizontal alignment across the shaft. The panels are shaped so that the lateral edges which engage the panel-support faces are conjugately shaped to nest between the opposing columns, i.e., the lateral edge of each panel slopes from the upper edge of the panel downwardly and inwardly toward the lower edge with the lateral edges being substantially coextensive with the support faces. In the embodiment preferred for shaft curtain wall constructions each panel denes a symmetrical trapezoid with its upper edge being the major base and its lower edge being the minor base. Each panel is somewhat smaller than the dimensions defined between the supporting columns so as to leave a space between the confronting surfaces of a given panel and the support columns and its superjacent and subjacent panels, which space is lled with a suitable grout for securing the panels in place. Likewise tongue and groove connections are preferred between confronting mating upper and lower edges of the panels.

When so arranged, each panel in a wall becomes substantially independently supported and much of the weight of each panel is directed laterally against the sidewalls of the shaft. In other words, the weight of each panel is transmitted in vertical and horizontal components of force rather than substantially only a vertical component, and the downward vertical component is carried substantially entirely by the side walls of the shaft rather than the panels themselves. The described arrangement, when applied to la shaft curtain wall, effectively utilizes the structural strength inherent in the surrounding earth. It is evident that the more weight which can be directly transmitted to the surrounding earth, the less need be supported by costly man-made materials. The panels may thus be made uniform regardless of their location in the shaft since the lower panels need be no stronger than ones above, resulting in lower manufacturing costs.

While the invention has special advantages in Aa shaft curtain wall construction, the arrangement may advantageously be employed for above-ground wall structures as well.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE l is a plan view of a circular shaft with a curtain wall according to the invention and showing items of equipment mounted thereon,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation taken along the line II-II of FIGURE l, showing a shaft with a curtain wall according to the invention,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective View of a panel used in the wall construction according to the invention,

FIGURES 4 and 5 are similar to FIGURES 1 and 2, and show the support members as recesses formed in the shaft wall, FIGURE 5 being taken along the line V-V of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is similar to FIGURES l and 4, but showing the sup-port members as pilasters extending into the shaft, with recesses in the pilasters.

Description of the pre'jerred embodiments `Referring to the drawings, 10 is a concrete liner constructed in a shaft sunk in the surrounding earth 11. On opposing walls of the liner 10 there are opposing side members or columns 12, here shown as being located eccentric to the center of shaft. Each of the columns 12 are integral with the shaft liner 10 and each extends vertically downward in the shaft. Each column further is constructed so as to comprise a vertical series of zigzag projections or steps which dene support surfaces 13 for the later described panels 14. Each projection 13 slopes downwardly and inwardly of the shaft and these projections or support faces of each of the opposing columns 12 are arranged in horizontal alignment across the shaft in opposing pairs of support faces.

Supported between each opposing pair of support faces there is a concrete panel 14 shaped so as to fit between and `be supported by the columns 12. Each panel is shaped as a symmetrical trapezoid having its major base defining the upper edge 15 of the panel and its minor `base defining the lower edge 16 of the panel. The lateral edges 17 of each panel slope downwardly and inwardly from the upper edge 15 to lower edge 16 at approximately the same angle as the slope of the support faces 13 so that each panel may rest between a pair of support faces. The slope of the support faces and lateral edges is slightly exaggerated in the FIGURE 2 for illustrative punposes, but a minimum slope of about one jinch (1) in five (5') is preferred.

Each panel further comprises a groove 18 in its upper edge 15 and a tongue 19 along its lower edge 16, whereby each panel, excepting of course the uppermost and lowermost, may be mated to a subjacent or a superjacent panel.

The dimensions of each panel are slightly smaller than the spacing between the columns 12 and adjacent panels so the panels can easily be emplaced and the spaces iilled with a suitable cementitious material, preferably a non-shrinking grout as indicated at 20. Grout is applied at the interfaces between confronting tongue and groove connections and between the lateral edges 17 and support faces 13. The grouted spaces are exaggerated in the drawings for illustrative purposes.

When so constructed the panels provide a unitary wall wherein each panel is independently supported by the opposing columns 12 and ultimately the shaft side walls. The slope of the support faces 13 and corresponding lateral edges 17 translates the major portion of the weight of each panel into a horizontal component acting against the liner 10 and surrounding earth 11.

In the illustrated embodiment the panels are provided with suitable horizontally disposed reinforcing rods 21 embedded in the panels. There is an opening 22 in the top edge of each panel to receive an eye-bolt or the like to provide a means for lowering the panel with a cable and hoist, for example. Also in each panel there are openings 23 for mounting of various types of equipment on the wall, such as the elevator tracks 24. The elevator 24a rides on the tracks and is supported by the wall formed by panels 14 and the wall 25. 26 is an elevator counterweight. The equippage here shown is but illustrative since the curtain wall may be used to mount other items of equipment depending on the purpose of the shaft.

Other wall structures may be built using the same principle as just described. In above-ground walls, however, one loses the advantages of the strength inherent in the surrounding earth, but the other described advantages still remain. In such cases the support columns at the ends of a wall structure must be sufficiently strong to withstand the outward lateral thrust exerted by the weight of the panels. This condition being satisfied, the wall structure is the same and has the same advantages. Also in above-ground walls, a variety of architectural treatments are possible.

With reference to FIGURE 2, for example, if the wall there shown be above ground, one or more intermediate panels may be omitted to provide window space or the like or for any other purpose, be it functional or aesthetic. The omission of any intermediate panel in the wall ldoes not destroy the structural integrity of the wall since each panel is substantially independently supported. In other variations the top and lower edges of the panels may be curved, either convex or concave, for architectural treatment. The support columns may take the form of pillars which are squared or rounded with the panels radiating therefrom at any selected angle.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, the wall construction is essentially the same as previously described in connection with FIGURES 1 to 3 but the support members 12a are a series of sloped recesses formed into the shaft liner 1G. This construction is ordinarily the most practical even though it entails chipping out the edges of the recesses to tit the panels 14 in place, then rebuilding the chipped out portion of the wall.

FIGURE 6 is similar to FIGURES 1 and 4, showing an embodiment wherein there are pilastens 27 with recesses 12b formed therein, and together forming a support member on each side of the shaft. The recesses 12b form a series of slopes as aforedescribed to mate `with panels 14.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications in the construction and arrangement of parts is possible within the scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A wall structure comprising,

(a) a pair of spaced vertically extending support members in opposing relation, each member having a plurality of vertically aligned projections, each projection sloping downwardly and toward the other member, the projections on each member being in horizontal alignment with those on the other member, and

(b) a plurality of wall-forming panels each having an upper edge, a lower edge and lateral edges, the upper edge being longer than the lower edge, the lateral edges each sloping from the upper edge toward the lower edge, each panel being disposed in the space between the support members with the lateral edges supported on a horizontally aligned pair of projections.

2. A wall structure as defined in claim 1, wherein each panel comprises a symmetrical trapezoid.

3. A wall structure as deiined in claim 1 wherein each panel comprises a pre-cast concrete panel with reinforcing rods disposed therein.

4. A wall structure as ldefined in claim 1 wherein one of the upper and lower edges of each panel is grooved and a tongue is formed on the other edge, whereby the tongue of one panel may be mated to a groove of an adjacent panel.

5. A wall structure as deiined in claim 4 wherein the interfaces between the tongue and groove of adjacent panels and between the panels and support members are grouted.

6. A curtain wall structure for a shaft for-med in the earth, comprising (a) a pair of vertical opposing support columns on opposite sides of the shaft, each column having a vertical series of projections thereon forming support faces which slope downwardly and inwardly of the shaft, the projections on each column being in horizontal alignment with a corresponding projection on the opposite column, and

(b) a plurality of panels forming a continuous vertical wall, each panel having an upper edge, a lower edge, and lateral edges, the upper edge being longer than the lower edge, and the lateral edges sloping down- 'wardly and inwardly -from the upper edge to the lower edge whereby each panel defines a symmetrical trapezoid, each panel being disposed in the space between the support columns with the lateral edges of the panel supported on an opposing pair of projections.

7. A curtain wall structure as defined in claim 6 wherein one of the upper and lower edges of each panel is grooved and a tongue is formed on the other edge, whereby the confronting upper and lower edges of adjacent vertical panels form mating tongue and groove connections therebetween.

'8. A curtain wall structure as delned in claim 6 wherein the interfaces formed between adjacent panels and between the panels and support columns are grouted.

9. A curtain wall structure as delined in claim 6 wherein each panel is a pre-cast concrete panel with reinforcing rods disposed therein, and each panel is provided with recesses therein adapted for the mounting of equipment thereon rfor use in the shaft.

10. lA curtain wall structure as dened in claim 6 wherein the shaft extends to a depth at least about 500 feet, the curtain wall is continuous throughout the shaft depth and each panel is of substantially uniform structure throughout the entire depth of the wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 975,084 11/1910 Stanley 61-47 X 1,246,135 11/1917 Meern 61-41 3,295,267 1/ 1967 Lundell 52-495 X 3,342,033 9/ 1967 Crouch et al 61--49 X JACOB SHAPIRO, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

